Armed men in speedboat approach two vessels off Yemeni coast

A speedboat with armed men aboard approached two vessels off the coast of Yemen's Red Sea port of Hodeidah, an advisory note from British maritime security company Ambrey said on Wednesday, according to Reuters. 

Britain's Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said it had received reports of an incident in the vicinity of the Bab el-Mandab Strait, without giving more details.

The AP said two missiles fired from Yemen missed a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker near Bab al-Mandab and a drone was downed by a US warship. 

Ambrey said the oil tanker reported an "exchange of fire" with a speedboat 55 nautical miles (around 100 kilometres) off Hodeidah, adding that the boat approached the tanker and initiated the gunfire at a distance of 300 metres (1,000 feet).

It said the tanker was hailed by an entity claiming to be the Yemeni Navy, which asked the vessel to alter course, but a "coalition" warship advised the ship to maintain course.

Ambrey did not clarify which coalition it was referring to. Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel, the operational arm of the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), is known to operate in the region. IMSC was formed in July 2019 in response to an increase in threats to navigation and the flow of trade.

Shortly after the tanker incident, Ambrey said, the speedboat approached a Malta-flagged bulk carrier 52 nautical miles off Hodeidah.

Ambrey added that it would provide updates where relevant.

Separately, UKMTO reported an incident in the Arabian Sea about 90 nautical miles off the Omani coastal town of Duqm. It gave no further details but advised ships to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.

The Houthi movement previously vowed to block Israeli-bound ships from travelling through the Red Sea until aid enters Gaza.

The group did not immediately comment on the Wednesday incidents.